Regina had just finished yet another chat with Laura. She closed the chat site and put a finishing touch on her lipstick.
Laura had prevented her from getting ready, but Regina didn't mind that one bit. Laura's little "interruptions" were always welcome. Even if it meant running a little late. The Charming's wouldn't mind if she was two minutes late.
Regina quickly stuffed her makeup away and smoothened a hand over her pencil skirt. Now she was ready to go to the dinner at the Charming's house.
Emma and Killian were already there, and so was Zelena. Regina was the last one. So, she was running more late than the thought.
"Sorry for the delay," she offered when David greeted her at the door and offered to take her coat.
"Don't worry," David said. "Busy at the town hall, I take it."
"Yes. Something like that." She had to lie. She couldn't very well tell the truth. That she had been held up because she was far too busy chatting with a woman online. David would probably find that a little strange. And Regina couldn't blame him. It was strange how much she had already come to appreciate her daily chats with Laura.
David let her into the living room where she was immediately greeted by Neal. The young boy flashed her a smile. His front teeth were missing.
"Hello, dear," Regina said and crouched down to greet the youngest Charming.
"R'gina," Neal greeted, and Regina chuckled. He still had some trouble with pronouncing her name. And neither David or Snow had corrected it, "because it sounds so sweet every time he says it".
Regina ruffled his hair, eliciting a protest from him, and then she went over to the table where the rest of her family was already seated.
"Sorry about that," she offered once again. "I was hold up with something."
Emma, Killian and Snow accepted her explanation, but Zelena said: "I feel like I've barely seen you all week. Where have you been?"
Regina shrugged. "I've just been busy, I guess."
Zelena muttered something that sounded like: "Too busy to meet with your own sister?"
Regina ignored that, but never the less reminded herself to not let the chat site and Laura consume all of her time.
They're halfway through dinner when Regina's phone suddenly made a familiar "blong" noise.
Regina immediately fought the urge to check the message. That would be so impolite in the middle of dinner.
Both Emma and Zelena started patting their pockets, pulling up phones to see who received a message.
"I think that was me," Regina said.
"Is it something you should take care of?" Snow asked. "Something work related?"
"No, no. It can wait," Regina assured.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, absolutely."
I should have put the phone on silent, Regina silently scolds herself. Getting a message in the middle of dinner seemed terribly teenage like.
But she did let it wait. She waited until they had helped Snow carry the last plate from the table. Then she went into the living room with the rest of her family. And while Emma and Killian discussed what sounded like new furniture's for their living room, Regina opened the chat site.
[Laura has sent you an attached file]
Regina quickly opened the attached file. It was yet another picture of a beautiful bouquet followed by a message from Laura.
Laura: Sorry for bothering you right in the middle of dinner, but what is your opinion on this bouquet?
Regina: It's very pretty, but I don't think you should ask me for advice. You know I don't know anything about flowers.
Laura: No, but I trust your taste.
Regina: How brave of you.
Laura: I'll take that as a compliment
Regina: ….
Laura: You're not impressed?
Regina: Impressed that a woman who's an expert in flowers chooses to ask a woman who doesn't know anything about flowers for advises? No, not really.
Laura: Congratulations.
Regina: You lost me there.
Laura: Your comment just made me laugh out loud and scare the little old lady living downstairs. So congratulations.
Regina: Ah. Should you be laughing at the little old lady's misfortune though?
Laura: Still laughing.
For the first time in her life, Regina felt tempted to reply with a laughing emoji, but found that that would be too much. So she settled for:
Regina: As I've pointed out several times, you're awful.
Laura: And yet you keep messaging me.
Regina: You messaged me first.
Laura: Touché.
"Who's Laura?"
Regina yelped and nearly dropped the phone. Zelena was standing right behind her, and quite clearly reading over her shoulder.
"Zelena!" Regina protested. "Don't sneak up on me."
"Who's Laura?" Zelena repeated and raised an eyebrow.
"Just someone I talk to occasionally," Regina shrugged. "Stop reading over my shoulder."
"Well excuse me for being interested in my little sister's social life."
"What social life?" Regina scoffed.
Zelena didn't answer that. She just kept eyeing Regina curiously.
Regina firmly ignored that.
Regina: I better get back to the dinner. Talk to you later?
Laura: Of course. Pulling an all nighter anyway. Might as well make the most of it
Regina: Don't act as if I'm making your night. See you later.
[Regina has logged out]
Regina slid the phone into the security of her pocket. There would be plenty of time to talk to Laura later, and she was at a dinner right now. Being social. Laura and the chat site didn't belong here, so to speak.
Regina sat down on the couch next to Killian and Emma, and Neal immediately climbed into her lap. That elicited a warm chuckle from Snow. She still found it funny that Neal was so drawn to Regina.
David opened a bottle of red wine, and glasses of the red liquid were served for the guest.
Regina took a small sip of the wine and tried to engage in the conversation.
Zelena was still watching her, but Regina had every opportunity to ignore that. Unfortunately, she didn't have the luxury of ignoring the text messages that started coming from Zelena the same night when Regina was walking back home to the mansion. Regina groaned when she read the first text:
"Again, who's Laura?"
"A friend. Why do you keep going on about it?"
"Why are you getting so defensive?"
"I'm not. Is there a point as to why you keep going on about this?"
"Is there something I should know about you and her?"
Regina gaped. Actually gaped. How much wine did Zelena have tonight?
"Have you lost your mind? We're just chatting…"
"Okay."
Regina could have chosen to ask Zelena if she was being sarcastic, but she wisely chose to end the conversation there. Because this was ridiculous. Stupid. There was no way she would engage in this kind of crazy talk.
Of course, nothing was "going on" with her and Laura. That was ridiculous. They were chatting online, for heavens sake. And Regina was steadfast in her belief: Nothing could ever happen online. It was impossible to develop "feelings" for someone you've never met.
She and Laura were simply chatting. That was all there was to it. Zelena was ridiculous for implying anything else.
So ridiculous.
Walking instead of driving to/home from the Charming's proved to be a good idea. Regina had had a few too many. She wasn't completely hammered or anything, had simply had one glass too many.
She felt a bit lightheaded as she arrived back home at the mansion and decided to have an early night.
Regina went upstairs and wiggled out of her pencil skirt, unbuttoned her blouse and unclasped her bra. Then she traded the lot for one of her comfortable silk pajamas. She climbed into bed and closed her eyes for a moment. Her head was spinning slightly. She had definitely had too much wine tonight.
Oh. Laura, she suddenly remembered. She had promised they would talk later. But was it advisable to chat with Laura whilst being drunk?
Regina decided to put that to the test and fished her phone out of her pocket. She quickly opened the chat side.
[Regina has logged in]
Regina: Laura?
Laura: Yes? :P
Regina: Oh. I thought perhaps you had gone to bed.
Laura: No, I was waiting for you.
Regina: That was nice of you. You didn't have to.
Laura: I know, but I didn't want to miss an opportunity.
Regina: Why do you want to keep chatting with me?
Regina immediately regretted it. What on earth prompted her to ask Laura that? Maybe she should just log off this instant.
Laura: Because you're interesting.
Regina raised an eyebrow. In what way, exactly? She found herself to be turning into this incredibly boring person. Always the same.
Regina: I am?
Laura: Yeah.
Regina: Oh.
Laura: I mean, you're smart, funny, delightfully sarcastic and stupidly beautiful. What more could a girl ask for?
Regina felt her cheeks heat up at that. And it had absolutely nothing to do with the wine.
Laura: Sorry, was that too much?
Regina: No… I don't think so. It's nice to feel appreciated.
Laura: Can I ask you something? With the risk of being as delicate as a blunt knife.
Regina: Yes. Ask away.
Laura: Has there been someone since your boyfriend?
Regina: Been someone?
Laura: Yeah, I mean, someone else. Another boyfriend.
Regina considered her answer. How was she supposed to tell Laura that she hadn't just lost a boyfriend? She had lost a soulmate. The man she was destined to be with.
Laura: Or girlfriend.
Regina: No, there hasn't been anyone since.
She wasn't about to deny being bisexual. Laura probably had that one figured out by now. And if she hadn't… Well, Regina was confirming her suspicion right now.
Laura: How long have you been alone, Regina?
Regina frowned. She actually had to think about that one. How long had she been alone? It felt like an eternity. And the time she'd had with Robin had been so short.
Regina: Three years.
Laura: That's a long time.
Regina: Yes, it is.
Laura: Have you never thought about meeting someone? You're young. You shouldn't be alone.
Regina: I've never really thought about it.
Laura: Never?
Regina: Well…
Laura: What?
Regina swallowed something as she typed her answer.
Regina: This is getting dangerous. And I've been drinking. Do you feel like talking about something else?
Laura: Sure thing. You could start with telling me why you've been drinking?
Regina: Had a few too many at the dinner.
Laura: So, do I get the pleasure of meeting drunk Regina?
Regina: I hope I'll be able to log out before it comes to that.
Laura: Does that mean you're funny when you're drunk?
Regina: I don't think I'm the right one to ask that question.
Laura: I would like to see that.
Regina: What?
Laura: You. Drunk. But generally, you.
Regina snapped a picture of herself before her brain caught up with her action.
[Regina has sent an attached file]
It only took seconds before Laura replied.
Laura: I was wrong. You're not a funny drunk. You're a beautiful drunk.
Regina: You're making me blush.
Laura: Seriously? :P
Regina: Wait…
Regina: Why am I telling you that?
Laura: Good question, Regina. Good question.
[Laura has sent you an attached file]
Regina clicked on the file in a heartbeat. Her mouth went completely dry. Another picture of Laura. Looking every bit as lovely as the last time. And wearing a tanktop. Regina only now realized that she too was in fact wearing her pajamas. And she had sent a picture of herself in it to Laura. Shit.
Regina: You're beautiful.
Laura: Thank you!
Regina: No need to thank me.
Laura: So are you.
Regina: Pardon?
Laura: Beautiful. You are.
Regina quickly realized that they once again were getting close to dangerous subjects.
Regina: I better get some sleep now.
Laura: Okay. Sleep well. I hope the headache isn't too bad tomorrow.
Regina: If it is, it's a hundredth percent my own fault.
Laura: Well, maybe I'll message you in the morning. Remind you to drink loads of water.
Regina: Yes. Do that. Sleep well.
[Laura has logged out]
[Regina has logged out]
Regina immediately started scolding herself as she closed the chat site. She definitely shouldn't be allowed on the chatroom whilst being drunk. That only let to stupidity. And Laura shouldn't pay for that.
Okay, seriously? Laura this, Laura that. You don't even know her.
Regina switched the light off and went to sleep.